2024-05-30-Las-Vegas-Weekly

CELEBRATING THE CULINARY WORLD AND ALLURE OF DIVERSE DINING EXPERIENCE

JUNE 3 – 7

PUBLISHER

MARK DE POOTER

mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR

SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)

Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers EMMA BROCATO,GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, AYDEN RUNNELS, RHIANNON SAEGERT, JACK WILLIAMS

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Senior Designer IAN RACOMA

Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN

Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON, ANNA ZYMANEK

Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ

Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

Events Intern MELINA TAYLOR

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON

Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS

Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

Senior Tra c Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Tra c Coordinator ALEX HAASE

Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP

CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

Chief Operating O cer ROBERT CAUTHORN

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY

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Happy Hour Includes Horsepower

Photo Credit @ Lowkey Captures

Las Vegas’ elite mixologists are taking mocktails to the next level.

Photograph by Wade Vandervort

As Las Vegas gets ready to host The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, the Valley’s creative cuisine takes the limelight.

Las Vegas Spaceport is looking to build a space economy in Southern Nevada from the ground up.

Weedeater breaks in Swan Dive, Area15 hosts a wellness and music festival, and more happening this

From the North Country is a heartfelt journey through Bob Dylan’s songbook. (page 34) (Courtesy/ Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

The Bronx Wanderers celebrate 2,000 Vegas shows with music and more at South Point.

Bel-Aire Backyard offers an off-Strip oasis for locals.

Will relying on young tight ends be a winning strategy for the Raiders next season?

SUPERGUIDE

DEAD & COMPANY

Thru 6/1, 7:30 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster. com

EGGY

11 p.m., & 5/31, Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com

GOLDIE With Zaiaku, 8:30 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com

NGHTMRE 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com

RZRKT With Lazrus, Gream, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us DO

( Courtesy )

JASON CROSS

10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, tixr.com

ADELE

8 p.m., & 6/1, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

8 p.m., & 6/1, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com

MAROON 5

8 p.m., & 6/1, Dolby Live, ticketmaster. com

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STARR BAND

8:30 p.m., & 6/1, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com

CHRISTINA AGUILERA

9:45 p.m., & 6/1, Voltaire, ticketmaster.com

AIR SUPPLY 7 p.m., & 6/1, Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster. com

FUNNY MARCO & BOBBI ALTHOFF

5:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com

WAKA FLOCKA Noon, Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup.com

DIPLO

10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com

ALESSO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com

KEHLANI 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

WEEDEATER

During its first few weeks of operation, Arts District venue Swan Dive housed the programming of Fremont East alternative dance club Oddfellows while that bar was renovated. With that makeover now complete, Swan Dive’s organizers are using the venue for its intended purpose—live music. North Carolina stoner sludge-metal act Weedeater is among the first group of bands to break in this new stage. Formed in 1996 and steadily maintaining relevance in the doom scene through deeply detuned guitar ri s, heavy bass scaling, slowed drumming and controlled lyrical shouting, this band proves that heavy rock lives. Opening the gig is New York hardcore punk and funk-inspired quartet Rebelmatic. Known for fiercely outspoken lyricism matching even more heart-pounding speed and eccentric musicianship, they’re guaranteed to fill the room with the immense energy this fresh venue has been craving. 7 p.m., $20-$25, Swan Dive, tickets. swandivelv.com.

–Gabriela Rodriguez

SATURDAY JUN 01

SESAME STREET

LIVE

2 p.m., Orleans Arena, ticketmaster.com

PUPPIES & PANCAKES

7 a.m., Broken Yolk Cafe, animal foundation.com

VEGAS KNIGHT

HAWKS VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS

6 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. PHOENIX RISING

FC

7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslights fc.com

HASAN MINHAJ

8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com

AVRIL LAVIGNE

With All Time Low, Royal & the Serpent, 7 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs. com

NO JOY

With Headwinds, Mutual, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, dice.fm

RACCOON TOUR

With MattstaGraham, Elevated Undergrounds, Sunday Mourning, Waitress, 6:30 p.m., Rockstars of Tomorrow, blacksheepbooking. ticketbud.com

GRLWOOD

With Scarlett Silhouette, Mugatu, MSMRS, Maybe You’re Right, 6 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, seetickets.us

RADIANCE WELLNESS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Art, DJs, food, drinks, live music, immersive everything ... Area15 does it all, as we’ve documented in these pages. But it’s not always just about fun. This innovative complex has maintained wellness programming including yoga, breathwork and special guest speakers from time to time. Now the second annual Radiance fest, co-presented by Yin City and Liveunlmtd, brings the yin and yang together. Curated classes and workshops, speakers including Sylvester McNutt III and Dr. Sam Zand, a special edition of the Sacred Edition guided meditation (with music), and performances from MC Yogi, DJ Drez, Sol Rising, J. Handel and Taz Rashid add up to one of the most thoughtful events in the vast spectrum of Vegas festivals. 9:30 a.m., $50+, Area15, area15.com. –Brock Radke

LUSTSICKPUPPY

9:30 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com

TIËSTO

11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup. com

ZEDD

11 a.m., Wet Republic, taogroup.com

DAVID GUETTA

11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial. com

DJ PAULY D

11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com

BIG SEAN

Noon, Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup.com

REGGAETON

LANDIA

10 p.m., Daylight Beach Club, daylight vegas.com

KAS:ST

10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us

E-40

10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com

THE CHAINSMOKERS

10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com

STEVE AOKI

10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup. com

PAUL OAKENFOLD

10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com

SUPERGUIDE

SUNDAY JUN 02

ADA LIMÓN

Poet Laureate of the United States Ada Limón is about to embark on a series of readings and poetry installations in seven national parks. The series, dubbed “You Are Here: Poetry in Parks,” will draw from the author’s 2024 anthology of poems You Are Here, which features a connection between the human experience and the environment.

“[I] believe that singing out, o ering something back to the earth, noticing our connection to the planet, could help us all move forward together in a powerful way,” Limón said in a partial statement. “Above all, this project is about rising to this moment with hope, the kind of hope that will echo outwards for years to come.” Ahead of her tour, Limón makes a stop at the West Charleston Library for a free event with Clark County Poet Laureate Angela Brommel and the local nonprofit Poetry Promise, Inc. 7 p.m., free, West Charleston Library, poetrypromise.org. –Shannon Miller

MONDAY JUN 03

DE LA GHETTO Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com

DILLON FRANCIS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynn social.com

ACRAZE With Deux Twins, noon, Encore Beach Club, wynn social.com

STEVE AOKI 11 a.m., Wet Republic, taogroup.com

SOFI TUKKER 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup. com

LADYTRON With Danz CM, 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com

SUNDAY NIGHT SPECIAL SHOWCASE

With John Caparulo, 7:30 p.m., Wiseguys Arts District, wise guyscomedy.com

BROTHERS OSBORNE 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

LAS VEGAS RESTAURANT WEEK Thru 6/14, venues vary, restaurant weeklv.com.

MONDAYS DARK

8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com

JOE MAZ

10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com

RAY ANTHONY TRIO 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com

MICHAEL LOFTUS With Omid Singh, Daniel Eachus, thru 6/7, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com.

( Courtesy/Katie Kauss ) DO IT ALL INDULGE Thru 6/7, events & times vary, Resorts World, rwlasvegas. com.

SUPERGUIDE

6LACK

7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY

Thru 6/9, 7:30 p.m. (& 6/8-6/9, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmith center.com

ENEI & KASRA

10 p.m., Discopussy, posh.vip

MARIO

10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com

JUSTIN CREDIBLE

10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com

MADISON BEER With Upsahl, 6:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com

MOONSHINERS & RICHARD MANN

6 p.m., Lawn at Downtown Summerlin, summerlin.com

JOI JAZZ ORCHESTRA 7:30 p.m., Notoriety, notorietylive.com

REVELRY Thru 6/8, events & times vary, Wynn, lasvegasrevelry.com

SUPER SUMMER THEATRE: THE LITTLE MERMAID Thru 6/8, 8 p.m. (& 6/8-6/9, 2 p.m.), Boman Outdoor Pavilion, supersummer theatre.org

CHINGO BLING

7:30 p.m., Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguys comedy.com

DO IT ALL

— Shari S., REAL CUSTOMER

TRENDS

MOCKTAILS WITH MERIT

Las Vegas’ elite mixologists are making magic without alcohol

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Lead Mixologist, Todo Bien

Las Vegas is very much a drinking destination. Our bartenders are unparalleled, our servers are unmatched and our cocktails are unforgettable. So why would a spirit-less option have any less spirit?

As more people break away from booze, our city’s mixologists are crafting tastier alternatives than ever before. We caught up with three local standouts to find out how they’re taking the mocktail trend to the next level.

After stirring up experience under the tutelage of award-winning bartender Juyoung Kang at the Dorsey and Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den, Rylen Komeiji is shaking things up with a line of tasty mocktails and low ABV options, such as the N/A whiskey-infused Crotch Kick (it tastes better than it feels).

“One of the great things to come out of the pandemic is people are focusing more on quality over quantity and also just drinking a little healthier. Not everyone wants to come here and just get smashed,” says Komeiji.

Komeiji models his mocktails after their most dominant avors, but is careful not to “give them a cup full of sugar.” For Todo Bien’s Melon Pepino, he combines cantaloupe with fresh cucumbers and Fever-Tree club soda to achieve that full-bodied creaminess. On the Sandia Frambuesa, a pleasantly tart marriage of raspberry and watermelon, a tuft of rosemary ushers in more savory notes.

Since tequila is central to Todo Bien’s folklore, Komeiji has started experimenting with lapsang souchong, a smoked black tea known for evoking the smokiness of Scotch and mezcal. People will be able to try that on the fall menu.

“What we want to do is make everyone feel included,” he says.

RYLEN KOMEIJI

JUYOUNG KANG

Director of Beverage Development, Fontainebleau Las Vegas

 A Vegas industry veteran, Juyoung Kang has watched cocktail menus become more curated and thoughtful over time. She’s kept watch over beverage trends, noticing that many bars, in California especially, have started opening non-alcoholic concepts. Going booze-less is certainly more acceptable than it once was.

“Because we raised the conversation and we raised their awareness, people are more condent in ordering it,” Kang says.

The Philadelphia-born mixologist takes an almost culinary approach to her mocktails, seeking how ingredients like starches can mimic the mouthfeel and texture of a cocktail. At Chyna Club, Kang brings the mocktail Heaven down to earth with an infusion of rice water tea, oleo-saccharum (a citrus-like sugared oil), g jam and Supasawa cocktail mix. It’s a far cry from a glass of pineapple juice.

Kang’s bold ingredient choice shines in mocktails like Clear Waters, where she concocts an elixir of tomato water, bell pepper, white wine vinegar and pungent gochujang with a tincture of lemon olive oil. It’s an acidic avor bomb, evoking the burn of a high-proof spirit so well, you’d swear you just sipped something strong and neat. Kang notes the use of oil helps coat the mouth and enhances the avor.

She adores teas for that reason, too. “With tea, because the tannin is higher, it kind of acts the way sake does where the amino acids are a little higher too, which allows whatever avors you put together to be a little more savory and have umaminess,” she explains.

MARIENA MERCER BOARINI

Master Mixologist, Wynn Resorts

You’d be surprised how many world-class mixologists don’t drink. Mariena Mercer Boarini quit roughly seven years ago, but that’s hardly muted her magic behind the bar.

“I want to be able to provide the same experience for guests, whether they prefer a spirited beverage or one without. Guests are de nitely looking for it and appreciating it. And I’m nding so much creative inspiration in doing it,” says Mercer Boarini, who creates all of her syrups, teas and garnishes at a special mixology lab on property.

When it comes to mocktails, Mercer Boarini takes everything into consideration, even ice, because temperature can alter how we process avor. At Casa Playa, her signature Electricdust Fire also raises the alchemy bar with its mouth-tingling, “supertaster” properties, simulating the loud and spicy avors of Sichuan peppercorn that she experienced on a Macau trip.

“A supertaster is a real phenomenon. People that have more densely packed taste buds than others can taste at a higher intensity,” she explains. “What’s happening is your salivary glands are going wild and as you sip your cocktail, you’re gonna start tasting di erent nuances.”

For poolside drinks, she always opts for what’s “light, refreshing and feels healthful in a way.” That might mean aromatic garnishes of passion fruit pearls or mocktails like the Made You

Look, with a base of jasmine pearl and green tea plus cucumber and watermelon. The drink gets its lilac hue from butter y pea tisane, a low-pH ingredient from Thailand that changes color when it encounters acidity.

“I don’t want someone to feel like if they’re not drinking at that moment, they’re missing out on that nuanced avorful experience that a cocktail can be,” she says. “I think a zero-proof or a mocktail beverage should be that.”

Inside the Life is a new podcast produced by The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. It is hosted by two former elite undercover agents, Giovanni Rocco and Dutch McAlpin. Their stories of infiltrating everything from the American Mob and outlaw motorcycle gangs to the cartels will leave you stunned. This podcast will give listeners a oneof-a-kind look into the inner world of organized crime, featuring guests who have lived on both sides of the law, risked it all and emerged to tell the tale. Inside the Life promises to be a thrilling and educational listen for those interested in organized crime, law enforcement and true crime.

Cuisine in Las Vegas continues to evolve with ingenuity and inspiration

BY BROCK RADKE

For the first time, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants annual awards ceremony is coming to Las Vegas. Originally created in 2002 in conjunction with British magazine Restaurant’s list of the top restaurants in the world and now a recognized “barometer for global gastronomic trends” compiled by a panel of more than a thousand experts, the awards ceremony stepped outside of London and began touring the world in 2016. It lands at Wynn Las Vegas on June 5 and will be livestreamed from Encore Theater at 8:25 p.m. via YouTube (find more info at theworlds50best.com).

It’s a big deal for Vegas, and there’s more: the 50 Best Restaurants Signature Sessions bring a slate of showcase lunch and dinner events to Esther’s Kitchen, Casa Playa, Wakuda, Bazaar Meat and other venues June 2-6; Wynn is launching a new food festival Revelry (see page 26) June 5-8; and Resorts World Las Vegas is celebrating with a week-long party dubbed Indulge (June 3-7, rwlasvegas. com/experiences/indulge/),

including the official opening and closing events for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, collaborative dinners featuring visiting chefs and the property’s own talent, private parties and more. It all feels a bit like the Super Bowl of food, appropriately positioned in the culinary wonderland of Las Vegas.

After decades of fine dining evolution in our community, does this arrival mean we’ve finally shed that old reputation for questionable casino buffets, fastfood prominence and cheap steak and eggs after midnight? The fancy restaurant and chef awards establishment has never fully recognized the steps that have been taken in Las Vegas, on and off the Strip. So we welcome a spotlight like this one, no matter when or how it shines, and happily amplify it with a colorful glimpse at some of the venues and artists who have elevated cuisine to new levels across the landscape.

Amazingness is constantly bubbling up under the surface in this food scene. For proof, look no further than this pandemic-born pop-up inspired by traditions of the Philippines. Pastry chef and mom Kimmie Mcintosh and husband Josh Mcintosh (general manager at Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan) began hosting virtual bake sales during COVID and donating proceeds to different nonprofits addressing racial injustice, garnering attention from local foodies and eventually the Vegas Test Kitchen, which began selling the goods Downtown: brown butter almond cake ube jam sandwiches, black sesame and coconut marble loaf, cashew and coco jam sticky buns.

Yeah, we know it sounds good, but would you believe these treats are so good that Milkfish Bakeshop notched a James Beard Award nomination this year, without a brick-and-mortar location or even a temporary storefront?

Some you know and some you may not, but these people and places are among the best examples of how Las Vegas is always pushing food toward art and sculpting the dining experience into an exhibition of talent and imagination.

“It literally came out of nowhere,” Kimmie Mcintosh says. “A woman who used to work at Test Kitchen tagged us in something [with] the semifinalists, and to see my name on that list was so weird. I thought it was spam and I deleted it and carried on with my day. Then I got tagged again and thought, what if this is real? Then the texts started coming.”

Popular and expensive fine dining restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip have struggled to achieve this recognition, while the three-year-old Milkfish became a semifinalist for the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker award. “We are super-duper small and that’s why it’s so shocking to me, jaw-dropping to represent Vegas that way,” she says. “We’ve had the pleasure of meeting other semifinalists like Steve Kessler [of Aroma Latin Cocina] and his restaurant is just eight tables. It’s just a really awesome thing for us little guys to have a chance to represent our area, as well as these huge names.”

The Mcintoshes don’t run a restaurant and they don’t have plans right now to open an actual bakeshop, but Milkfish will pop up during The World’s Top 50 week, with the 303 in the Cut food truck at Play It Again Sam’s on Spring Mountain Road on June 4 from 4-6 p.m. And yet the soul and spirit of their concept, no matter what form it takes, is emblematic of the creativity and craftsmanship required to clear culinary boundaries.

“For me it’s about becoming closer to my Filipino culture,” Mcintosh says. “Being able to bake these things and coming up with these ideas, and doing research into that culture and history, it’s been great to get back into touch with that.” Milkfishbakeshop.com.

Milkfish Bakeshop’s karioka

EDO Tapas & Wine

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Ask a true Vegas food expert where innovation is happening and you’ll be directed to EDO Tapas & Wine in Chinatown, Anima by EDO at the Gramercy, and soon, a new Spanish-French brasserie concept from Oscar Amador Edo and his partners and collaborators. The newer Anima remains one of the buzziest spots in the Valley, but EDO “is my baby,” says the chef. “The size of the restaurant is right so we can be more creative, change the options more, use a bunch of different techniques.”

EDO’s tasting menu is 15 courses, including an opener with several canapes that are as tasty as they are beautiful. You might come across a bluefin tuna tart with rhubarb, mascarpone and passion fruit. You might taste mussels escabeche with white asparagus, salsify and a gel made with coconut water and yuzu. The flavors and textures can be mind-bending, unlike anything you’ve imagined.

“I think [Las Vegas] is a unique dining destination, but at the same time, restaurants like us are always in the shadow of the hotels, right? I think right now that’s changing,” he says. “More and more people want to see the food off the Strip.” 3400 S. Jones Blvd. #11A, 702-641-1345, edotapas.com.

Introducing different cuisines is always a big part of expanding our dining horizons, and Mediterranean food has been having a moment in the past couple of years. Award-winning celebrity chef Alon Shaya and wife Emily Shaya are the newest contributors, bringing an updated version of their Michelin-recognized Denver restaurant to the Jardin space at Wynn for a “limited-run residency” through the end of the year. From Ora King salmon with red beets and tahini to lamb ragu hummus or Dover Sole schnitzel with tzatziki and pickled shallots, these plates are as exquisite as the Mediterranean flavors we’ve come to appreciate in a greater way in Las Vegas. Wynn, 702-770-5316, wynnlasvegas.com.

(Courtesy/Wynn Las Vegas)

Satfa 1964’s blue crab hummus

Chef Kaoru Azeuchi joined the society of elite Japanese cuisiniers in Las Vegas when he transformed the stellar Yuzu restaurant into a full-on kaiseki experience, honoring the traditional style of progressive, creative courses and complete hospitality. Last year Azeuchi was acknowledged with a James Beard Award nomination and Yuzu expanded its brilliant offerings with an omakase sushi room. No matter which versatile, ingredient-driven experience you choose to explore, this acclaimed destination will provide one of the most memorable meals available anywhere in Las Vegas. 3900 Spring Mountain Road #A5 Las Vegas, 702-778-8889, kaisekiyuzu.com.

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Kaiseki Yuzu’s Zensai

Everybody loves the food and drinks at eight-year-old gem Sparrow & Wolf but it’s always been difficult to describe. Let’s just call it inspired cuisine, because it’s always growing and changing, and chef and owner Brian Howard is constantly allowing others to inform that growth and present their inspiration and influence on the plate. “We’re very fluid and free-flowing in the way we work and we want new things moving in and out all the time,” he says. “It’s a tough task for a busy restaurant, but we’re really proud of what the team has done over the years and we’re pushing to be better. The goal is nothing less than one Michelin star level, and I think that’s reasonable and doable.” 4480 Spring Mountain Road #100, 702-7902147, sparrowandwolflv.com.

Wolfgang Puck began transforming the local restaurant landscape when he brought Spago to the Strip in 1992; no one has seen dining trends change more—and steadily adapted his business empire for continued sustainability in Las Vegas—in the way Puck has demonstrated. His crystal ball predicts “it’s gonna come back more to the ingredients,” says the legendary chef. “Younger chefs sometimes like to complicate things. I always tell them, I don’t want a chef standing there with tweezers putting little flowers or herbs on a dish. I want a chef cooking the food and tasting the food, that’s the most important part. Flowers are not going to add flavor and to me, it has to be delicious, and if it’s the best quality ingredients, it’s going to look good.” At his newest Vegas restaurant on the Strip, a classic porchetta—pork belly slow-roasted with lots of garlic and rosemary, served with bright salsa verde—is one of Puck’s absolute favorites, because why go cutting-edge if you can’t have comfort? “Everything inside is so rich and tender, and on the outside it’s really crispy, really a delicious dish. Our chef who came up with it, I told him I wish I thought to do it that way.” Mandalay Bay, 702740-5522, wolfgangpuck.com.

Sparrow + Wolf’s bánh cuõn with Hudson Valley duck and habanero

(Courtesy)

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Caramá’s porchetta

Wynn launches Revelry in celebration of Vegas cuisine

Chef Josh Smith at Delilah will host a special dinner with Michael Symon on June 7. (Courtesy)

(Courtesy)

(Courtesy)

BY BROCK RADKE

Wynn Las Vegas has been a consistent leader in fine dining on the Strip since the resort debuted in 2005 and followed up three years later with the opening of Encore. So the luxury resort is a logical and natural choice to host The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, and it’s no surprise that Wynn is launching a culinary festival, Revelry, to coincide with the event.

But this fancy food festival was in development well before the awards folks decided to come to town, according to Wynn vice president of culinary operations and restaurant development Chris Lee.

“Our CEO Craig Billings is so forward thinking on what’s next and he has a soft spot for F&B, so doing a food and wine festival has always been in our world to create,” he says. “It’s a great honor for the hotel and for Las Vegas to have the 50 Best, and it is such a powerhouse now.”

But Revelry was going to happen either way, and Lee says it’s designed to become an annual event, likely shifting to springtime next year to avoid summer temperatures. Running June 5-8 at various Wynn restaurants and venues (info and tickets are available at lasvegasrevelry.com), the celebration includes: the East Meets West dinner with chefs from Wynn Palace and Wynn Macau at Wing Lei; a master mixology class with Mariena Mercer Boarini and Kate Gerwin of Happy Accidents at Casa Playa; and the All-Star Chefs Dinner at Lakeside, where Lee will collaborate with Brad Kilgore of Kilgore Culinary, Angie Mar of Le B, Philip Tessier of Press, Margarita Manzke of République and Wynn pastry chef Jen Yee.

And then there’s The Feast, a sort of festival within the festival on June 8 at the Wynn Event Pavilion and Lawn, a grand tasting with more visiting guest chefs cooking across “these four

immersive worlds,” Lee explains.

“We wanted to elevate the [food and wine festival] standard with some Vegas style, to come up with something kind of big. So we’ve built these worlds based on Tulum on the Mexican coast, the Casbah Marketplace with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean, the Shibuya Crossing which is this Japanese urban feel, and this Texas ranch with specialty cuts of beef doing different barbecue and grilling and Americana-style food.

“So you enter a different world and there’s different design, entertainment and music—it’s like going to Disney, all around food.”

Lee has been at Wynn for almost two years and has been named Rising Star Chef of the Year by the James Beard Foundation and Best New Chef by Food & Wine. He’s helmed two Michelin star restaurants and helped launch and manage several acclaimed restaurant and hotel concepts. And he’s watched the evolution of fine dining in Las Vegas from afar before stepping into the scene and says he’s excited to see what’s next.

“In the early to mid-2000s, Vegas was a mecca for all chefs and we always looked at it as cutting-edge because the greatest chefs in the world were going to Vegas: Guy Savoy, Hubert Keller, Alain Ducasse, Jean-Georges Vongerichten,” Lee says. “As the years went on, the city turned to TV personalities, especially on the Strip, and turned into a more commercial mindset, not a bad thing. That helped grow it to where it is today.

“Being a nerd to the industry, I still love going to the local restaurants and asking who’s who, and there’s some inspiring cuisine going on off the Strip for sure. I’m still of that old-school philosophy that you go to a restaurant because of the chef and they are there every day cooking their food, and their passion drives that level of excellence.”

Explore local cuisine while helping to feed your neighbors with Las Vegas Restaurant Week

As if all this foodie fabulousness isn’t already overwhelming, this week also marks the return of Las Vegas Restaurant Week, when hundreds of local restaurants dish up special menus at discounted prices to raise money and awareness for Three Square Food Bank and the community’s collective efforts to battle hunger and food insecurity.

Last year, $221,449 was raised during Restaurant Week, which equals 664,347 meals provided for more than 274,000 food-insecure Southern Nevadans. More than six million meals have been provided via Restaurant Week since it started in 2007.

Despite these major efforts, this year’s annual Map the Meal Gap study from Feeding America reports that local food insecurity is on the rise. One in seven locals qualify as food-insecure (defined by the USDA as having limited or uncertain access to enough food to live an active, healthy life), a total of 341,480 people, up from 67,050 last year. The food insecurity

rate across Three Square’s service area including Clark, Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda counties is up to 14.7% , from 12% last year. And one in five children (22%) in Southern Nevada are living in food-insecure households, up from 17.8% last year.

“Inflation and rising living expenses, especially grocery prices and rent, are causing financial strain for too many of our neighbors,” Beth Martino, Three Square president and CEO, said in a statement. “Our community needs help. Collective action from our volunteers, donors and community partners is essential in our ongoing mission to fight hunger and guarantee food security for every member of our community.”

To find out how you can help, visit threesquare.org/ how-to-help. And of course you can help while you dine out at your favorite local restaurants during Restaurant Week, June 3-14, with that all-important list of participating locations and menus at restaurantweeklv. org –Brock Radke

Carversteak

(Courtesy)

A Culinary

Las

IN THE NEWS SPORTS

Vegas

Aces champion reproductive rights in 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup

The Las Vegas Aces announced they will represent Reproductive Freedom for All in the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase.

Reproductive Freedom for All has a Nevada chapter that is currently leading an effort to get a referendum on the November ballot asking Nevadans whether abortion rights should be added to the state constitution.

“Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada is a state chapter of Reproductive Freedom for All, a national nonprofit organization. Reproductive Freedom for All state chapters build grassroots and political power to engage and mobilize communities, lobby state lawmakers and advocate for reproductive freedom. In Nevada, they are expanding reproductive freedom and defending access to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care in the southwest,” reads a statement from the team.

Each team participating in the in-season Commissioner’s Cup tournament will play a total of five games. The Aces’ first game will be at the Dallas Wings on June 5. Other games will be played on June 7, 9, 11 and 13. A full game schedule is available at aces.wnba.com –Staff

1 NEVADA JOINS ANTITRUST LAWSUIT AGAINST TICKETMASTER

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has joined the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of 30 attorneys general in an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. The plaintiffs argue that Live Nation increased fees and was not forthcoming about the ultimate cost for a live event at the point of sale; threatened venues with a loss of access to Live Nation-controlled tours; and used its network of venues to “strong-arm” artists into selecting Live Nation as their promoter.

HOT SHOT Fireworks explode over the Plaza in Downtown Las Vegas on May 24. The hotel will host a fireworks show Friday nights at 9:15 p.m. through August 30.

(Steve Marcus/Staff)

TRAFFIC

New route should alleviate LaughlinBullhead travel

A bridge linking Laughlin to Bullhead City will debut June 7 in a $60 million project that has been talked about by residents for years when federal funding was initially committed for the project in the 1990s.

It’s a move that officials from Nevada and Arizona believe will reduce traffic along the cities’ only bridge at Bullhead Parkway and U.S. Route 95, as well as promote development in the south area of Bullhead.

The new bridge—dubbed the Silver Copper Crossing by Clark County—will cut drive times for residents. About 43,000 people reside in Bullhead City, according to the latest U.S. Census.; there are another 8,000 in Laughlin. The bridge at Avi Resort is privately maintained.

Spanning 724 feet, the bridge is about 35 feet above the flowing waterway and has one lane of traffic in each direction, as well as a multiuse trail on the south side for bicyclists, runners and pedestrians. It also has two bridge overlooks and can be restriped to accommodate four lanes of traffic. –Grace Da Rocha

Louisiana governor signs bill making two abortion drugs controlled dangerous substances

First-of-its-kind legislation that classifies two abortion-inducing drugs as controlled and dangerous substances was signed into law Friday by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.

The measure affects the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, which are used in medication abortions, the most common method of abortion in the U.S.

Current Louisiana law already requires a prescription for both drugs and makes it a crime to use them to induce an abortion, in most cases. The bill would make it harder to obtain the pills.

The classification would require doctors to have a specific license to prescribe the drugs, and the drugs would have to be stored in certain facilities that in

AREA15 GETS A NEW TENANT

some cases could end up being located far from rural clinics.

Opponents of the bill included many physicians who said the drugs have other critical reproductive health care uses, and that changing the classification could make it harder to prescribe the medications.

Supporters of the bill said it would protect expectant mothers from coerced abortions, though they cited only one example of that happening, in the state of Texas.

Knowingly possessing the drugs without a valid prescription would carry a punishment including hefty fines and jail time.

The new law will take effect on October 1.

2 3

Superplastic, an IP company known for collectible art toys, has announced that it will introduce its animated characters in real life for the first time at Area15 entertainment district. Superplastic will open an “experiential space” within Area15 later this year, “blending its signature brand of mischief and tomfoolery with art, hype culture and fashion,” reads a statement from the company.

The bill passed as abortion opponents await a final decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on an effort to restrict access to mifepristone.

The bill began as a measure to create the crime of “coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud.” An amendment adding the abortion drugs to the Schedule IV classification of Louisiana’s Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law was pushed by Sen. Thomas Pressly, a Republican from Shreveport and the main sponsor of the bill.

In addition to inducing abortions, mifepristone and misoprostol have other common uses, such as treating miscarriages, inducing labor and stopping hemorrhaging. –AP

HISTORIC WESTSIDE GROUNDBREAKING

The City of Las Vegas and College of Southern Nevada hosted a groundbreaking for the new Historic Westside Education and Training Center at the Historic Westside School campus. The 15,000-square-foot training center will provide credentialed job training programs in advanced manufacturing, health care, technology and construction trades. The $16.4 million training center is partially funded by a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant.

Ahead of the June 11 primary, Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar outlined new policies to help ensure quicker and more reliable ballot counting.

To help address previous concerns with vote-counting speed, the secretary of state’s office is requiring county clerks and registrars to begin counting votes from mail-in ballots and early in-person voting at 8 a.m. on Election Day. Those initial results will be sent to the secretary’s office by 6 p.m. Election Day and announced once polls throughout the state are closed and all voters in Nevada have cast their ballot.

“We will be able to release more data to the public more quickly with this new process,” Aguilar said. “This also gives counties more time to process and tabulate results than they’ve had before, as they face intense pressure from the public to release these results quickly.”

Aguilar emphasized the new requirements and efforts to more quickly tally the votes would not come at the expense of election integrity, noting that mail-in ballots were secure, and officials would be vigilant with all voting documents.

–Ayden Runnels

READY FOR LIFTOFF

Las Vegas Spaceport seeks to build a space economy from the ground up

BY SHANNON MILLER

The Entertainment Capital of the World, the Sports Capital of the World and now … the Space Capital of the World?

That’s the vision of Robert Lauer, CEO of Las Vegas Spaceport. The company received unanimous approval from the Clark County Board of Commissioners in early May to build an airstrip for the future Las Vegas Executive Airport, which Lauer says will be the beginnings of a spaceport.

According to a statement from Clark County, the approval is only for an airstrip at this time, conditional upon approval of the Federal Aviation Administration. Expansion or use of the airstrip for any other purpose would require subsequent applications to the county and additional FAA approvals.

On 240 acres along Highway 160 approximately 50 miles away from Las Vegas, nestled in the shadow of Mount Charleston and Red Rock National Conservation Area, Lauer expects the $320 million Las Vegas Spaceport to include a range of services including civilian space flight assimilation training, 40 commercial hangars, a STEM college with advanced flight simulators, a hotel, passenger terminal, rooftop observation deck and restaurant.

“Part one is going to build public support through tourism, because it exposes the average person to what the industry is building and the opportunities that are provided,” Lauer tells the Weekly Tourists would be able to purchase fighter jet rides that simulate “high Gs” and simulate space travel for $6,500, he adds, as well as zero-gravity parabolic flights for $9,000. “The fighter jet rides may be available this summer,” he says, adding that plans include a heliport near the Strip to transport tourists to the spaceport.

Lauer envisions building a “space economy” much like Florida’s right here in Southern Nevada. And he says the secret ingredient to making it work, is a private enterprise like what Elon Musk’s SpaceX has done. In his research of 16 spaceports across the country, he found that the facilities were government-owned, and do

not seem very effective in engaging businesses or the public.

“I found that they were all done by government agencies, municipalities, states. … Most of them were just run by local bureaucrats who didn’t have any real relationship to space or the space industry or business or anything, and were not very receptive or supportive of businesses,” says Lauer, who has been a pilot for 30 years.

“I look at Nevada. I look at Vegas. I look at our history with the nuclear test site, with Area 51, with the Nevada Test [and Training] Range, and the people here and our engineers and our deep history of technology [and] I don’t think there’s a better place in the country to build a space economy. … We have built-in tax credits for aerospace companies to come here.”

To sustain a space economy, the spaceport also would provide the needed “human capital.” A post-high school STEM academy, a “private, nonprofit … military academy,” is planned to be on site at the spaceport.

“There’s no [general education]. These kids are going to go through a two-year program where they are going to be focused on aerospace engineering, but also other disciplines like welding. So [they don’t] have to be a rocket scientist to be able to go to our STEM academy,” he says. “We’re going to be working closely with companies to see what they actually need, so we can create a curriculum that fits the needs of our industry.”

Lauer has recruited an expert advisory board for this, including José Hernandez, former NASA astronaut and current regent of the University of California, as well as Ron Kelly, CEO of Las Vegas Flight Academy.

As for actual space travel, Lauer is watching the development of spaceplanes, which are being engineered to go into space, return and repeat. Rockets, at least with the current technology, would be impractical to launch so close to a city, he says.

“There are no vertical launch companies right now, rocket companies that can launch inland, so close to a city like ours. And that’s why I’m pressing the spaceplanes. … Those are the kind of vehicles that could, and I expect would, operate

out of our spaceport in three to five years,” he says.

“These kids are going to go through a two-year program where they are going to be focused on aerospace engineering, but also other disciplines like welding. So [they don’t] have to be a rocket scientist to be able to go to our STEM academy.”

–Robert Lauer, CEO, Las Vegas Spaceport

More immediately, Las Vegas Executive Airport is expected to alleviate capacity issues with general (non-commercial, non-military) aviation—including private jets, which landed in Vegas in record numbers for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and the Super Bowl. Lauer estimates the airport would be able to park 150 to 200 jets.

This could help with ground capacity issues at Harry Reid International Airport, he adds—faster than the county’s Ivanpah Valley Airport forthcoming in 2037.

“If we can get approval by the end of summer, after we’re done with the drainage study and other things, we hope to break ground by the end of summer. That means within two years of buying the property, I’m going to have an operational runway and airport essentially,” Lauer says.

“The government has been taking 24 years since the land was approved by Bill Clinton to build an international airport out by Primm. And they’re talking another 13 years before they’re ready to even move forward with construction.”

Lauer knows the spaceport won’t happen tomorrow. But the tourism aspects of the enterprise, including air races, could start earlier.

“This is going to be a 10-year program to create this industry. But it’s already emerging,” he says.

Renderings of Las Vegas Spaceport (left) and its STEM academy (above). (Courtesy)

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY

June 4-9, times vary, $40-$150. Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.

NORTH STAR

Bob Dylan’s music helps to tell a story of determination in Girl

from the North Country

BY GEOFF CARTER

Bob Dylan’s self-titled debut album came out 62 years ago. In that time, the music of the quintessentially American singer-songwriter has fully fused itself to modern life, to a point that we don’t always recognize it when it turns up. (Name another artist who’s been covered by Adele, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Phoenix, Elvis Presley and William Shatner.) Dylan’s lyrics, which won him the Nobel Prize for literature in 2016, are timeless in their relatability, which is how Irish playwright Conor McPherson was able to adapt some two dozen of songs into a jukebox musical set in 1934—seven years before Dylan was even born.

Girl from the North Country, playing at the Smith Center June 4-9, tells a Depression-era story of resilience set in a rundown

guesthouse in Dylan’s hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. Each of its characters has something weighing them down—alcoholism, depression and dementia, among others—and their struggles toward equilibrium are catalyzed by the arrival of two strangers, a boxer and a bible salesman. The story is driven by a raft of Dylan classics (“Like a Rolling Stone,” “Lay, Lady, Lay”) and left-field surprises (“Jokerman,” “Duquesne Whistle”), reimagined for the stage in period-appropriate orchestrations by Simon Hale, who won a Tony for his efforts.

“I think Conor McPherson captured Dylan,” says David Benoit, who plays North Country’s Mr. Burke.

“[McPherson’s] not cookie-cutter; he’s not commercial. The show has almost a rebellious feel. It’s like

Connor created his own genre of musical theater.”

In keeping with the spirit of the man who supplied its songbook, Benoit was allowed to make Mr. Burke’s story a bit more personal to him—to take a long, hard look at that fictional life and ask, how does it feel? A failed entrepreneur with massive debts and a family that’s barely holding together, Burke is the kind of broken man Dylan might have identified with when he imagined having “no direction home.”

“He’s a complex character. I love him,” Benoit says. “He’s a businessman from the northeast part of the country, [and] I just happen to be from Fall River, Massachusetts. So, I adopt the dialect that I spent years and thousands of dollars to get rid of, and I embrace it.

“He’s very funny. He’s a blowhard, he’s loud, knows everything about everything—yet he actually knows nothing, and is just overcompensating for being a pretty small man. He’s basically a failure as a father, a businessman and a husband, and it’s a lot of fun to play and to humanize him.”

Burke’s life is just one of several that’s transformed by that night in the guesthouse, and by the music of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer that unknowingly wrote the story of their lives. When he saw the show on Broadway, Dylan himself was taken aback, consumed by the emotions he helped to create: “I just let it happen. The play had me crying at the end. I can’t even say why,” he told the New York Times. “When the curtain came down, I was stunned.”

Benoit can relate; he saw the show long before he was cast in it, and was taken with its humor, pathos and humanity. He believes Smith Center audiences will respond as he did to North Country’s themes of “facing adversity as a community and … uplifting each other.”

And, of course, he knows we’ll love the songs.

“You get this catalogue of music, beautifully sung,” he says. “When I saw the show in New York, I had no idea ever be part of this production, especially in this role. But I was so moved by it. And it stayed with me.”

Chiara Trentalange and Ben Biggers in Girl from the North Country (Courtesy/ Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC

FRIDAY | JUNE 7

TANK

THE R&B MONEY TOUR WITH KERI HILSON & CARL THOMAS

SUNDAY | JUNE 23

DL HUGHLEY

FRIDAY | JULY 5

IL DIVO

SATURDAY | JULY 6

MUSIC

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SURVIVORS

The Bronx Wanderers celebrate 2,000 Vegas shows with music and more at South Point

BY BROCK RADKE

They broke through on the Las Vegas Strip by sharing a small showroom with Wayne Newton. They moved on up to bigger casino venues only to get shut down by COVID, then fought their way back and resurrected their timeless, mass-appeal rock-and-soul concert production at Westgate Las Vegas for two years.

Now the Bronx Wanderers have a lot to celebrate. The family band has solidified a residency at South Point (where they played their first concert in Las Vegas in 2011), sharing the venue with the Righteous Brothers, Human Nature and other acts that celebrate a similar musical legacy. They’ve signed up to stay put through December 2025. And they’re blasting into summer with a special series of performances that will take them past the 2,000-show mark.

“Over our eight-year residency, we’ve learned not to take this incredible life and journey for granted,” says frontman Vincent

John, who helped form the group with his father, younger brother and high school friends in 2004. “So many shows have come and gone, and to still be here, hitting 2,000 shows is a testament to how hard we work, how incredibly supportive the Vegas community is to us, and how lucky we are to still perform as a family in the entertainment capital of the world.”

During the June 6-9 run, the Bronx Wanderers will be raffling away dinners at South Point favorite Don Vito’s, and fans, followers and newbies can safely expect some surprises. This show is a different kind of all-ages attraction in Las Vegas as the ever-changing setlist— Frankie Valli to Bruno Mars, Queen to Stray Cats—allows these charismatic and talented performers to tug on the musical heartstrings of multiple generations.

THE BRONX WANDERERS June 6-9, 7:30 p.m., $45, South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

“The greatest thing about our show is we tailor-make it to the audience in front of us on the spot,” says John. “The best part of performing in Vegas is we’ve added a string and horn section to the show. The added musicians happen to be young local kids from the Las Vegas Youth Artists Orchestra.

“We love supporting our community and only in Vegas can people see us perform with a 10-piece band.”

The Wanderers are constantly touring when they’re not in Vegas, and their road show is also highly adaptable; they’ll be joining summer festivals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, among other out-of-town gigs. But the cozy confines of the South Point Showroom has become a Bronx headquarters of sorts, and “we couldn’t be happier,” John says.

(Courtesy)

SCENE

LOCALS’ LAGOON

Dipping into Bel-Aire

Backyard

at Durango

BY AMBER SAMPSON

The Strip never fails to bring out vacation envy in me. The tourists revel in their natural habitat, splaying out by the pools, sipping afternoon cocktails and relishing the last vestiges of the sun as daylight fades to evening. This place, in many ways, belongs to them.

But for locals like me, an off-Strip oasis experience often feels out of reach. That’s where Bel-Aire Backyard comes in.

It’s around noon on a Saturday when I tiptoe into Durango’s new poolside wonder, a sister concept to Clique Hospitality’s intimate Bel-Aire Lounge mere feet away. Mild melodies of house and techno embrace me like the warm sun, and I’m swept away by what genuinely feels like a piece of private paradise in the southwest Valley.

Bel-Aire Backyard feels like it’s ripped straight from Palm Springs travel guides, with its mature palms crowning a sprawling deck and a body of crystalline water springing forth from the center. Women lounge poolside on their lily pads, making waves with their toes; couples canoodle in daybeds or by the bars; there’s even some friend groups in the water enjoying a midday swim and lazing out by the lawn.

“This is where the locals play,” says Mustafa Abdi, senior director of nightlife marketing for Clique Hospitality. “It’s not Wet Republic, it’s not Encore Beach Club. But it’s something sexier and more adult than Red Rock and GVR.”

Clique also operates Daylight Beachclub at Mandalay Bay, but Abdi views that and Bel-Aire Backyard as “two different beasts.” Whereas Daylight relies on tourists and DJs anchoring ticket sales, Bel-Aire Backyard casually fills a niche for the neighborhood.

“The aim was to give everybody who lives in this area a taste of what we give them on the Strip,” adds Hassib Wahab, director of marketing at Clique Hospitality. “The Strip, as everyone knows, is one of the top destinations in the entire world. But when you move away from the Strip a little bit, you’re not getting as highly elevated of an experience. Now it’s changing.”

Because it is a hotel pool, locals still pay a cover, but Bel-Aire’s 21-and-up sunset swim party Recess Fridays admits locals for free. Roughly 48 daybeds and 10 cabanas flank the pool and can be rented for a discounted price compared to the Strip. I personally found plenty of open table seating, and the two bars are prime people-watching spots. If all that holiday-ing has you hungry, BelAire Backyard Grill also features an extended menu from Bel-Aire Lounge, with sushi, grilled fish tacos, lobster rolls and more to cover your cravings. For a local, Bel-Aire Backyard serves as a welcome escape. “When you’re in here, it almost doesn’t feel like you’re in Las Vegas,” Wahab said, and sometimes, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.

Ahi poke bowl (Courtesy/Clique Hospitality)

Venetian celebrates a big anniversary by doubling down on luxury

THE INCIDENTAL TOURIST

BY

Venetian is the last great themed casino resort in Las Vegas. It opened in May of 1999, after Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, New YorkNew York, MGM Grand, Treasure Island, Luxor and Excalibur. And no disrespect to Paris Las Vegas— which opened four months after Venetian—and its iconic Ei el Tower and indoor Parisian streetscape, but Venetian’s theme is and always has been more comprehensive, an unmistakably strong aesthetic that expanded when the striking 642-foot Palazzo hotel tower and casino enlarged the property in 2007.

As grand and sweeping as the

THE STRIP

Strip-front facade may be, with its re-creation of Italian landmarks

Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge and Venice’s Grand Canal, its appearance is only part of the theme; it’s all about luxury. When it opened 25 years ago, it had 3,036 suites, and today they remain the largest standard hotel room on the Strip. Since it was built primarily to accommodate business travelers who could stay under the same roof as the Sands Expo Convention Center (now known as the Venetian Expo), it made sense for the resort to o er abundant, elite options in dining, nightlife and retail—not to mention a truly expansive gaming oor—and it always has. In recent years, Venetian has elevated its entertainment o erings to unprecedented heights, most notably with the arrival of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp’s Sphere, but also with

headlining acts in the Venetian Theatre and Summit Showroom and the invention of the Voltaire cabaret experience.

To mark this month’s signi cant anniversary, Venetian recently announced its largest and most expensive hotel renovation, a $1.5 billion project that will include a full redesign of those suites (now numbering 4,000); new gaming o erings and a sportsbook naming rights deal with Yahoo; new design elements in the convention center; new restaurants to be announced later this year; and even a rebrand of its lion logo. The new hotel suites— “inspired by the traditional ornate costumes of the Venetian Carnival, infusing energy, spirit and warmth in a contemporary, fresh design,” according to a release—will be available for reservations beginning in September.

Earlier this year, Venetian also launched the Food Rescue Alliance, which repackages and utilizes surplus food from catered events— there are many here—to be distributed across Southern Nevada to those dealing with food insecurity. It’s a new partnership with the Just One Project and it was recognized by the White House in February.

Perhaps because it arrived at the end of the era of family-friendly, Disneyland-esque casino resorts on the Strip, Venetian feels detached from its origins.

Like Bellagio, it has a timeless quality; both destinations seem to have existed in the iconography of Las Vegas longer than they’ve been open for business.

Unlike Bellagio, Venetian’s personality—if such a thing can be ascribed to a giant hotel and casino—may have evolved through the years. Conventions and Italian scenery remain at the core, but today it wraps itself around other big names with worldwide recognition—U2 and Earth, Wind & Fire; Emeril Lagasse and Thomas Keller; Tiësto and Tyga; Christina Aguilera and Kylie Minogue; Spiegelworld and The B-52s.

TRANSPORTIVE YEARS 25

As big as the Venetian experience felt in 1999, it has only expanded, become more diverse and ambitious. Not every themed casino has transcended the idea of themed casinos.

BROCK RADKE

Nestled beneath the Eiffel Tower of Paris Las Vegas, Chéri Rooftop is the place to sip, show off, and take it all in—with picturesque views, photo-worthy cocktails, and fashion-forward Parisian charm.

BY CASE KEEFER

Michael Mayer was in for a mild surprise on the rst night of the 2023 NFL Draft when his phone never rang with a call from a team to tell him he was being selected.

Coming o back-to-back All-American seasons at Notre Dame, Mayer was expected to be taken in the rst round but fell to the second where the Raiders were able to trade up and take him with the 35th overall pick.

He took the slip in stride, saying he was happy to end up in Las Vegas where he showed ashes of potential late in his rookie season. Mayer had two touchdown catches down the stretch last year before missing the nal three weeks of the season with a toe injury.

Then the real shocking draft-related call came when he was least expecting it—this April during the 2024 NFL Draft. New Raiders general manager Tom Telesco gave Mayer a heads-up that the team was using its rst-round selection, 13th overall, on another tight end—Georgia’s Brock Bowers.

Mayer had some initial confusion about why the Raiders would bring in another highly touted player at his position, but said it quickly wore o and turned into excitement about what the pair could accomplish together.

“Who’s going to guard both of us?” Mayer said after the team’s second practice of the spring. “If you put a (line)backer (on us), put a small safety here, like, I’m a big body (and) Brock is a big body. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

The new Raiders’ coaching sta —including now-permanent head coach Antonio Pierce, o ensive coordinator Luke Getsy and tight ends coach Luke Steckel—is hoping the pair creates the type of mismatches Mayer described.

STICK TIGHT

Raiders to rely on young tight ends, run a lot of ‘12 personnel’ going into next season

BROCK

BOWERS

They might play the same position, but the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Mayer and the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Bowers have skill sets that should complement each other. Bowers is dynamic

in the open eld and set up to succeed on gadget-type plays while Mayer is more of a bruiser and threat over the middle.

They’re both years away from the NFL’s

ahead of schedule this fall.

traditional prime—the 22-year-old Mayer is a year and a half older than Bowers—but may emerge as focal points of the Raiders’ o ense

There’s a chance they could wind up as vital of weapons as players like perennial All-Pro

receiver Davante Adams and late-season breakout running back Zamir White.

There’s a chance they could wind up as vital

franchise will be moving more in line with the rest of the NFL if it uses them together as frequently as advertised.

“If you have two great tight ends, I think in order to defend against the pass and the run,” Bowers said.

it’s really hard to match that personnel-wise

Few if any teams now have two tight ends as collegiately decorated as the Raiders, but the

MICHAEL MAYER

RAIDERS’ REMAINING SUMMER SCHEDULE

FINAL VOLUNTARY OFFSEASON WORKOUT PROGRAM: June 3-6

MANDATORY MINICAMP: June 11-13

START OF TRAINING CAMP:

Mid-to-late July (exact date TBD)

PRESEASON WEEK 1: at Minnesota Vikings, August 10

PRESEASON WEEK 2: vs. Dallas Cowboys, August 17

PRESEASON WEEK 3 vs. San Francisco 49ers, August 23

Training camp will be held in Costa Mesa, Calif., at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex this year. Preseason game tickets available starting at $95 at ticket master.com.

collegiately decorated as the Raiders, but the

Schemes with two tight ends and one running back—called “12 personnel”—have long eclipsed formations with one tight end and two running backs—“21 personnel”—as the second-most used o ensive setup in the NFL. One tight end and one running back—“11 personnel”—remains most teams’ base, but 12 personnel was used on 19.3% of snaps last season, the second-most ever since the league began tracking the data in 2016.

The Raiders were 24th in the league in only using two tight ends on 14.4% of plays. Getsy was with the Chicago Bears last year, however, and utilized two tight ends at the eighth-highest rate in the league at 23.5% of snaps.

The Atlanta Falcons ranked rst with 12 personnel on 41.8% of snaps. The Raiders will probably sit somewhere in between the Bears’ and Falcons’ rate in the 2024-2025 season.

“I think the most important thing is nding a way to maximize the type of guy that you have, guring out what they do well,” Getsy said. “That’s the phase we’re in right now. We’re all trying to gure each other out.”

It shouldn’t take much work to gure out that the Raiders need both Bowers and Mayer to contribute in a major way if they want to improve on last year’s 8-9 season. Las Vegas used such high picks on both players that it would be a waste of resources if it can’t gure out how to get them to coexist on the eld.

Bowers and Mayer say there will be no problem personality-wise with them getting along. Bowers was highly surprised himself on draft night when he became a Raider, in part because he knew the team already had Mayer—not to mention fellow veteran freeagent tight end acquisition Harrison Bryant.

But tight ends are being used more than ever in the NFL, and the Raiders will now join in on the trend.

“We’re putting a lot of things in right now,” Mayer said. “We’re running a lot of stu out there. Brock has been great so far. He’s been a great dude, eager to learn. It’s been great. We have a great tight end room.”

(AP Photo/ Photo Illustration)

A-LISTERS SITE LETS LOCALS PLAY PART OF TRAVEL AGENT

BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF

Dana Manacher is a self-described avid traveler—the kind of person who’s planning her next vacation while already on one. But review sites like TripAdvisor or Yelp, social media and other platforms can often lead to an “information overload” when it comes to exploring a new city, Manacher said.

Her solution is Shrtlst, a Las Vegas-based site Manacher jokes she built “out of pure frustration,” which connects users with locals who can provide insider tips, unbiased insight and out-of-the-box recommendations.

“Ultimately, what we do is we go into a city like Las Vegas or Miami … and we find the tastemakers in that city for all different types of experiences—for the downtown hipster, for the luxury traveler, for the outdoorsy explorer,” Manacher, CEO of the company, said. “And it can be for travelers, and also for locals just exploring their own city.”

Users on the site can browse different categories—based on whether they’re looking for a date-night destination or a family getaway, for example—and be provided with a list of recommendations formulated by “A-Listers,” or locals selected and vetted by Shrtlst to ensure they are unbiased, informed, unpaid by venues

and more.

“Growing up here, I’ve watched the hospitality scene evolve from the ground up, witnessing firsthand the transformation that has shaped the vibrant, dynamic Las Vegas we know today,” A-Lister Seth Schorr said in an email to Vegas Inc. “My history and local knowledge made me a natural fit to help Shrtlst’s mission to reimagine how we explore.”

You can also put in the date range you’ll be in any given city, where you’re staying and your budget, and the Shrtlst will recommend nearby brunch or dinner spots, late-night haunts and more, said Manacher, who noted that artificial intelligence technology also helps serve up the perfect ideas.

The site launched in Las Vegas this year, where it’s also headquartered and acts as a “sister company” to the Guestbook, a cash-back rewards program for independent and boutique brand hotels that Manacher co-founded.

In addition to the benefits of already having a network of seasoned travel industry professionals in Las Vegas, the city was also a great place to build out the site because of its nature as a destination for all kinds of trips, Manacher said.

Shrtlst stands out, despite entering an incredibly saturated market, because it is really

focused on giving the most unbiased recommendations, said A-Lister Carmen Mesa, unlike the posts of paid influencers or promoters.

Her first impression of Shrtlst as someone coming from a hospitality background was just that it “makes so much sense,” Mesa said. Shrtlst is dedicated to maximizing someone’s experience, she said, providing users with advice on where to park or other small but game-changing details.

“Anytime … you look at Las Vegas, you think (of) a lot of fun, but it’s also extremely easy to get overwhelmed,” said Mesa, a longtime local. “So it’s just a matter of putting people at ease and keeping more of the excitement versus anxiety of the upcoming trip.”

The site has also gone live with A-Listers in Miami, and Los Angeles is soon to follow, Manacher said. There will be around 10 more cities added by the end of the year, she estimated, before the company goes international to places like Europe, Latin America and Canada.

A Shrtlst app will hopefully be launched by the end of the year, as well, Manacher said. Users should be able to plan their trip from exploration, to booking to sharing their itineraries and so forth, she said.

No one knows a city more than its locals, Manacher said, and in Las Vegas, they can provide information like where best to enter a casino for a certain show or restaurant reservation, the best time of day to visit attractions like the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and the many hidden gems it has to offer.

For Schorr, who loves the outdoor opportunities and the food scene in Las Vegas, that means showing tourists and other locals alike the experiences that Las Vegas has to offer, especially off the Strip.

“Sharing my favorite local spots through Shrtlst, particularly those off the well-worn tourist path, is incredibly rewarding,” he said.

Dana Manacher, CEO of Shrtlst (Steve Marcus/Staff)

BY MEGAN COMFORT

Small-business owners have long been our country’s engines of economic development, but they need access to capital to grow. Many entrepreneurs benefit from resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), a federal agency that serves small-business owners.

Each year, the SBA releases a Small Business Profile, which uses economic data to provide demographic statistics. The 2023 profile for the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise area shows that 99.2% of businesses are considered small (employing 500 or fewer employees), which means small businesses provide jobs for 41.4% of employees in the region.

The SBA offers different loan programs including the 7(a) loan, which is among the most popular because of its versatility. Because the SBA guarantees a portion of each 7(a) loan, banks can mitigate some of the lending risk, allowing more businesses to qualify for funding. SBA loans are subject to credit and SBA approval—so being creditworthy makes it more likely that your loan will be approved.

While many banks participate in SBA lending, a smaller subset of financial institutions are designated by the SBA as preferred lenders. This designation means these institutions have a proven track record in process-

GUEST COLUMN

Five reasons entrepreneurs should benefit from Small Business Administration program changes

ing and servicing SBA loans.

As of August 1, 2023, the SBA revised its lending programs to help small-business owners. Here are five major changes that could benefit your business.

Small loan

maximum dollar amount increased to $500,000

The SBA provides various loan programs with different underwriting requirements and the maximum loan amount for SBA is $5 million. However, some companies choose to borrow a smaller amount because a 7(a) small loan can be processed faster than a standard SBA loan. This year, the maximum amount for a 7(a) small loan was raised from $350,000 to $500,000— making it easier for small businesses to access more capital.

Streamlined underwriting requirements for small and express loans

Lenders now have greater flexibility in determining applicant creditworthiness for SBA loans under $500,000.

This change puts more of the decision-making process into the hands of lenders who understand the applicant’s business and risk factors, which helps them process loan applications more quickly and efficiently.

Lenders can use any of the following criteria when approving loans of $500,000 or less: the credit score or credit history of the applicant, associates and guarantors; the earnings or cash flow of the applicant; and, when applicable, any equity or collateral of the applicant.

SBA loans may be used to facilitate partial changes of ownership

SBA loans may now be used to pay for the acquisition of a portion of one or more owners’ stakes in the company. Additionally, in cases of partial ownership transfers, the seller is permitted to remain as an owner and involved in the day-to-day business, including as an officer, director, key employee or employee.

This change benefits small businesses that would like the previous owner

to remain to help with the transition. This is a common practice for many small businesses in the medical field, for example, which may now leverage the benefits of SBA financing.

Affiliation change may increase eligibility for SBA lending

Previously, the SBA needed to approve franchisors, which affected lending to franchisees.

This requirement has been removed and now lenders may directly review and approve franchise relationships. This means a greater number of franchise owners may be eligible to leverage the powerful benefits of SBA loans.

The personal resource test has been removed

Previously, SBA applicants needed to demonstrate that desired cash could not be obtained from personal resources. The new rule exempts SBA lenders from having to consider the applicant’s personal liquidity during the screening process. Consequently, serial entrepreneurs, who often have deeper resources compared with the average startup founder, can now leverage SBA resources to launch new businesses and create jobs in their communities.

In a rising interest rate environment, SBA loans are a powerful resource because they often include longer repayment terms and greater flexibility in terms of equity and collateral requirements. Working with an experienced SBA lender can help set your business up for success.

Megan Comfort is executive vice president/small business manager for Nevada State Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. member FDIC.

Lenders now have greater flexibility in determining applicant creditworthiness for SBA loans under $500,000. This change puts more of the decision-making process into the hands of lenders who understand the applicant’s business and risk factors, which helps them process loan applications more quickly and efficiently.

VEGAS INC NOTES

Platinum Contracting of Nevada is expanding its team with the addition of three industry veterans. The firm named Robby Jay as co-owner and president, Bill Gettman as co-owner and chief operating officer and Tom Bixby as project manager. They combine for nearly 100 years of experience, having worked on or contributed to projects including the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Allegiant Stadium, the 215 Beltway and the Harry Reid International Airport Connector, among others. Jay will play a role in overseeing team management, financial efficiency and development strategies. Gettman will support the firm’s daily operations and drive growth initiatives. Bixby will contribute to the delivery of projects, leading teams in the field and optimizing internal processes.

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV bestowed endowed chair honors upon two faculty members during its

first investiture ceremony. Dr. David Jackson, professor and chair of the Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, was conferred as the Intermountain Healthcare of Nevada Endowed Chair in Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics. Dr. Erik Kubiak, professor in the Department of Orthopaedics, was conferred as the Optum and Dr. Tony and Renee Marlon Endowed Chair in the Department of Orthopaedics.

Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology announced the creation of the Nevada Middle Mile Network, a 2,500-mile open access, fiber optic network that will reach many unserved communities in Nevada. The dollars will fund one-time construction costs of the network. Part of the High Speed Nevada Initiative, construction of network will enable better connectivity to hundreds of unserved K-12 schools,

libraries, state and local government facilities, and community anchor institutions in the coming years.

Elizabeth Shipman has been promoted to vice president of organ operations at Nevada Donor Network. She is responsible for overseeing, directing and managing hospital relationships, organ operations, family support and the clinical laboratory for the nonprofit organization. She has been leading Nevada Donor Network’s organ services team since 2021 as senior director of organ services.

Adam’s Place, a nonprofit children’s bereavement resource, welcomes Nathan Adelson Hospice and Candlelighters as Camp Cope partners. Staff at both organizations completed nine hours of training to earn certification to facilitate the program. Camp Cope is an Adam’s Place program that offers education for those coping with grief and loss.

HELP WANTED

Sr. Software Developer (2 Openings) in Las Vegas, NV

Mining Operations Coordinator

Verifying that safety & job specifications are met & projects are in compliance with all industry safety rules, procedures & applicable government regulations. Req’s: 24 mos of exp. Interested applicants contact Ms. Ashley Wold, Thyssen Mining, Inc., 1617 Windmill Lane, Ste 400, Las Vegas, NV 89123.

Analyze software requirements, design, develop, test, implement and troubleshoot full stack applications including Java based applications in cloud environment. Perform technical and functional analysis of problem and provide professional solutions on system and coding issues. Design complex database and write scripts to create and modify database objects. Conduct code review written by junior software developers. Req: Master’s degree or equiv. in Computer Science, Information Systems Technology or related field. Strong skills in programming, debugging and troubleshooting software applications; proficiency with Java, JavaScript, JUnit, SQL, AWS, Postmen, Jira, HTML5/CSS, JSON and in-depth knowledge of complex web systems, APIs, microservices architecture and data structures. Send resume to Simple Max Tech LLC, 8860 S Maryland Pkwy, Suite 108, Las Vegas, NV 89123

PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES

BY FRANK LONGO

One who saves the day

Wild about

Pomeranian, e g.

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Egg-shaped

Assistant on iPhones 12 Pomeranian, e g.

Accumulate, as interest

14 Modeling compound for kids 15 Twinge of guilt, e g.

Oahu feast

Water whirl

Briny body

Sharp remark

Cry of Homer Simpson

Actor Byrnes or fielder Roush

Halved

Entryways

Go very fast

Numbered musical work 38 FedEx rival

State firmly

Variety

Like most musical works with five

BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Here are ways to ensure you are exposed to all the lush lessons you need and deserve. 1. Identify three subjects you would be excited to learn more about. 2. Shed dogmas and fixed theories that interfere with your receptivity to new information. 3. Vow to be alert for new guides or mentors. 4. Formulate a three-year plan to get the training and teachings you need most.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Poet Emily Dickinson was skillful at invoking and managing deep feelings. One scholar described her emotions as being profoundly erotic, outlandish, sensuous, flagrant and nuanced. Yet even she got overwhelmed. You may be having a similar experience. It’s fun, though sometimes a bit too much. The good news is you will soon be in possession of a voluminous new bowl that can accommodate the floods of emotions.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are now in a phase of “Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion.” During these times, the Fates have a reduced power to shape your destiny. Your willpower has more spaciousness to work with. Your intentions get less resistance from karmic pressures that at other times might narrow your options. It might be time to get a “LIBERATION” tattoo or an equivalent new accessory.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Whatever treasure you have lost or are losing will ultimately be reborn in a beautiful form. Any purposeful surrender you make will hone your understanding of what your soul needs next to thrive. A helpful influence may fade away, but its disappearance will clear the path for new helpful influences that serve your future in ways you can’t imagine yet.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Denmark’s King Canute IV (1042–1086) had his servants move his throne to a beach as the tide came in. Seated and facing the North Sea, he commanded, “Halt your advance!” The surf did not obey. “You must surrender to my superior will!” he exclaimed, but the waters did not recede. Soon, his throne was engulfed by water. Humbled, Canute departed. You can and should expand your influence and clout in the coming weeks. Just be sure you know when to stop.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Irène Joliot-Curie craved more attention than she got from her mother, Marie Curie. Mom was zealously devoted to her career as a chemist and physicist. Fortunately, Irène’s grandfather Eugène became his granddaughter’s best friend and teacher. With his encouragement, she grew into a formidable scientist and eventually won a Nobel Prize in chemistry herself. There may be a mentor and guide akin to Eugène in your future. Go looking!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Soon, you will slip away to a sanctuary in a pastoral paradise. You will enjoy long hikes, immerse yourself in healing music and savor books. Maybe you will write your memoirs or compose deep messages to dear old friends. Or is your imagination more inclined to yearn for a trip to an exciting city where you will exult in high culture? Maybe you will consider doing both.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Instagrammer sketchesbyboze advises to make “the mundane exciting. You are not ‘going to the drugstore.’ You are visiting the apothecary to buy potions. You are not ‘running an errand.’ You are undertaking an unpredictable adventure. You are not ‘feeding the birds.’ You are making an alliance with the crow queen.” Infuse your daily rhythm with magic and fantasy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Invite new muses into your life. Give them auditions. Interview them. Figure out which are most likely to boost your creativity, stimulate your imagination, and rouse your inspiration. Tell them you’re ready to deal with unpredictable departures from the routine as long as these alternate paths lead to rich teachings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Japanese have a word for a problem that plagues other countries as well as theirs: karoshi, or death from working too hard and too much. Monitor yourself for such proclivities in the coming months. You can accomplish wonders as long as you work diligently but don’t overwork. You won’t literally expire by pushing yourself, but you will risk your mental health.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Typically, human fertility is strongest when the temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. You will be an exception to the rule in the coming months. Whether it’s 10 below or 90 in the shade, your fertility will be extra robust—literally as well as psychologically and spiritually. Be attentive to your birth control measures.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Here’s a key assignment in the coming months: Enjoy fantasizing about your dream home. Imagine the comfortable sanctuary that would inspire you to feel utterly at home in your body, your life, and the world. Even if you can’t afford to buy this ultimate haven, you will benefit from visualizing it. As you do, your subconscious mind will suggest ways you can enhance your

and

You may also attract influences and resources that will eventually help you live in your dream home.